Well-drilling apparatus



L. B. WLLOLDRLDGE.

WELL DBLLLLNG APPARATUS. APPLLCATLON. FILED AuG.2'5, |919.

I i :v5.1

76 A`TT0RNEY.

E-IN B. VIOOLDRIDG-E, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURL "WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Eetent.

Patented Mar. ti, limi..

f Application filed August 25, law. Serial No. 319,810.

To .ril -wftom t' may Concern Be known that l, Jo li. "ll/'connainon4- a citizen ot the United .Stat-es, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State ot liissouri, have invented certain, new and useful improvements in lVell-Drilb ing- Apparatus; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the. art which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsj and to the letters and ligures of reference marked thereon, which forni a part ot this specification.

his invention relates to well paratus and one ot the i v ion is to prf a convenient y constructed nnaratus which may be easily i tcduced 'to the wellY easing for the p pose c "illing the well at a diameter at least equal to the outer circumference ot the casing, the parts being so arranged that the mechanism may be withdrawn after the drilling operation has been finished, or whenever found expedient.

The invention contemplates the provision ot means whereby the drill bit may be driven an electigic motor and whereby a stream water may be introduced in proximity the cutting edges ot the drill bit, the motor shaft being hollow for that purpose.

The invention also contemplates means whereby cuttinlg` blades may expand beyond the inner circumference or" the well casingduring the cutting operation but which may automatically be retracted whenit is desired to remove the device from the w ll.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent 4by reference to the following description.

ln the drawings,

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a well casing equipped with my invention, the drill bit beingr shown in elevation.

Fig. ll is a sectional View on the line IIe-il ot Fig. l.

Fig. El is a'sectional lldlll of Fig. l, and

Fig. l/v is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the drill bit.

Referring, now to the drawings by numerals of reference:

l designates the well casing which may be oi ordinary construction with guide ribs view on the line l and introduced into the well in the usual nay. ylhe drilling,` mechanism may consist ot a casing,i 2, containingr an electric motor 3 therein and provided with a hollow shaft which extends through a stuffing -loox 5 in a removable cap 6 threaded to the casing 2. The lower end of the hollow shaft is preferably threaded to engage an inverted truncated conical bit head 'Y having longitudinal `u'rooves 8 and 9 in its sides which are adapted to communicate with channels or openings l() and ll in the head, as shown in Fig. lV. The channels l() and l1 are adapted to receive fluid from the hollow shaft fl, as will he presently explained, and in the inclined grooves S and 9 are cutting blades l2 and lil adapted to freely slide therein and preferably dovetailed, as indicated et la and 1:5, lll. rthe lower end oi the head '7 is provided with lishtai d bitpoint 16 of approved construction.

The upper end or the shaft Il of the motor is connected to a hollow s iaft or conduit l?, projecting;` through a stalling' box 18 in a removable cap 19 threaded to the casino' 2. 2() are conductors to convey current to the motor 3. Within the casing 2 is asupport 2l on which weights may rest7 these refn erably being threaded upon the shatt i7 so as to add weight to the drilling device and assist the point lo to obtain a purchase against the material to be drilled. lhc dead 7 is provided with spiral grooves f2?, to permit the removed material in liquid Aforni to `How up past the head l and between the casings l and this being; possible since the easing"- /l is ot less diameter than the casing l.

When the parts are assembled, as shown in Figi. l, and current is applied to the motoi' 3, the hit head may be rotated so that the'point 16 and cutters l2 and l?) will cut into the earth and rock to bc removed. The

pressure of the earth against the sliding cutting blades 12 and 13 will torce them upwardly so that their upper outer points will extend beyond the periphery of the casing;l l so to make the well ot sullicient diameter to admit the casing sections.

Vvhen, however, it is desired to withdraw the drilling apparatus, an upward pull will permit the cutting,r edges l2 and 1.3 to move downwardly and inwardly against the inclined .sides of the grooves 8 and 9 so that they will be retracted within a circle of less vdiameter than the inner diameter of the easing l. Therefore, ydiflicult'y in removing the device will be avoided.

What l claim and desire to secure by Let ters-Patent is:

l. ln a well drilling machine, a easing, a motor driven shaft passing through the cas ingr, a e ,tting head on the end of the shaft, and removable Weights in the easing.

2. In a Well drilling machine, a closed casing1 a motor therein, a tubular Shaft passing through said motor and easing, a head neme?? on the lower end of the ubular shafm entting members carried by the head, channels in the head communicatingf with the tubular shaft, and' removable weights in the easinfr.

3. In a well drilling machine, e easing, a motor in the easing, :i cutting heed driven by the motor, and removable Weights in the easing.

In testimony whereof l a'xmy signature.

JOHN B. VOGLDRDGE. 

